Black History

Largest Black-owned bank launches visa debit card in honor of Black women

THE WESTSIDE GAZETTE — The largest Black-owned bank in America is paying respects to Black queens all over the country. OneUnited Bank launched a Queen Visa Debit Card under its Royalty Campaign to recognize the women who exude #BlackGirlMagic, according to a press release.

Published

5 years ago

April 13, 2019

Oakland Post

By Carma Henry

The largest Black-owned bank in America is paying respects to Black queens all over the country. OneUnited Bank launched a Queen Visa Debit Card under its Royalty Campaign to recognize the women who exude #BlackGirlMagic, according to a press release.

OneUnited bank introduced the Queen Card in March during Women’s History Month under the Royalty #WearYourCrown Campaign to raise awareness of the #BankBlack and #BuyBlack Movement across the nation.

“We agree with Maya Angelou,” President and COO of OneUnited Bank, Teri Williams, said in a statement. “If you’re always trying to be normal you will never know how amazing you can be. We encourage the Black community to celebrate the amazing past, present and future Queens in our community.”

The bank is recognizing women in various career fields, including scientists, educators, entertainers and activists, who all made an impact on the world.

Some notable Black women figures include Aretha Franklin, Oprah Winfrey, Angela Davis, Queen Latifah, Beyoncé, Harriet Tubman, and Shirley Chisholm.

In February, the bank launched a Black History Month campaign with a King Visa Debit Card under its Royalty Campaign as well. They find it important to celebrate “the new generation of kings and queens” in the country.

OneUnited Bank supports its community “by promoting financial literacy and offering affordable financial services” and this campaign embodies what it means to recognize trailblazing women who are making a difference.

Black women have been especially making significant strides in entrepreneurship. From 2007 to 2018, the total of Black women-owned business grew by a whopping 164 percent. In 2018, 2.4 million Black women owned businesses across the nation, according to Forbes. In almost every sector, Black women reign.

This article originally appeared in The Westside Gazette.

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Black History

Betty Harris: Inventor of Spot Test That Revolutionized Chemical Detection

Our accomplishments never cease to amaze me. Imagine being a scientist who can detect hidden chemicals with just a simple test. Here’s another hidden gem. Dr. Betty Harris is a brilliant scientist and inventor known for her work in chemistry. She was born on July 29, 1940, in Louisiana. From a young age, Betty was fascinated by science. She loved to learn how things worked and always asked lots of questions. Her passion for science led her to become a chemist.

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1 week ago

July 19, 2024

Oakland Post

Dr. Betty Harris

By Tamara Shiloh

Our accomplishments never cease to amaze me. Imagine being a scientist who can detect hidden chemicals with just a simple test. Here’s another hidden gem.

Dr. Betty Harris is a brilliant scientist and inventor known for her work in chemistry. She was born on July 29, 1940, in Louisiana. From a young age, Betty was fascinated by science. She loved to learn how things worked and always asked lots of questions. Her passion for science led her to become a chemist.

By 1961, aged just 19, she had graduated from Southern University in Baton Rouge with a chemistry degree.

She did her research at Los Alamos National Laboratory, New Mexico, where she worked in the areas of hazardous waste treatment and environmental remediation as well as explosives chemistry. Areas of focus included explosives detection, synthesis and characterization of insensitive high explosives and sensitivity of weathered high explosives.

Her invention, a spot test for TATB, represents a significant advancement in the detection of this crucial but stable explosive compound.

TATB stands for 1,3,5-triamino-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene. It’s a type of explosive that is very stable and safe to handle, making it important for various safety applications. TATB is used in explosives because it doesn’t explode easily under heat or shock, which means it’s safer to store and use.

Harris invented a special test called a “spot test” to detect TATB. Before her invention, finding TATB in materials was difficult and time-consuming. Her spot test made it quick and easy to detect this important chemical.

The spot test developed by Harris is a simple yet powerful method that involves a few straightforward steps. A small sample of the material in question is obtained. The sample is treated with a special chemical solution formulated by Harris. If TATB is present in the sample, the solution undergoes a color change, providing a clear and immediate indication of its presence.

Harris’s spot test is important for several reasons. The test helps ensure that explosives are safe to handle and store. By detecting TATB quickly, accidents can be prevented. It is easy to use and provides fast results, saving time and resources.

Inventions like Harris’s help science to progress by making it easier to work with important chemicals.

Her contributions extend beyond her scientific achievements. She is a passionate advocate for education and has been a mentor to countless young scientists, particularly encouraging girls and African American students to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) fields.

Her dedication to fostering the next generation of scientists has earned her numerous accolades and respect in the academic community.

Harris still lives in New Mexico.